GELSENKIRCHEN, Jun 12 (SW) - The Czech Republic easily defeated the United States with one goal from Jan Koller and two from Tomas Rosicky. The bad news was a serious injury for Jan Koller at the end of the second half.

The USA started with the experienced Kasey Keller in goal, while the Czechs had to do without the slightly injured Milan Baros.

The first yellow card came within four minutes, when Oguchi tackled playmaker Pavel Nedved.

0-1 Jan Koller 5th minute
And a minute later, the Czech Republic took the lead. The tall striker Jan Koller sees a cross coming from the right wing, and heads past Keller for 0-1.

David Rozehnal was yellow-carded for a foul on Landon Donovan in the 16th minute, and referee Amarilla showed to be consistent.

After their goal, the Czechs spent most of the time on their own half, allowing the United States to take the initiate.

But Karel Brückner's men focused on counter-attacks and were dangerous in a few occasions. Pavel Nedved came down the wing in the 25th minute, crossed and Grygera's following header missed the target.

The Americans almost levelled the score in the 29th minute, when a good attack allowed Claudio Reyna to launch a distance shot, but the ball hit the left post with the keeper beaten.

Nedved stormed down the left in the 35th minute, and was only just kept away from the goal by a good tackle from Eddie Pope.

0-2 Rosicky 36th minute
A minute later, things got a lot harder for the USA as the Czechs scored their second goal. Bad clearance by the defense allowed Tomas Rosicky to score for 0-2 with a perfect strike into the top right corner.

But the celebrating did not last long as one of the Czech stars, Jan Koller, suffered a leg injury in a battle with Onyewu and had to be stretchered off.

The player, scorer of the opening goal, was replaced with Vratislav Lokvenc and it seemed to be the end of the tournament for the popular Koller.

At the start of the second half, USA coach Arena brought on John O Brien and Eddie Johnson for Pablo Mastroeni and Steve Cherundolo. The Americans switched from four to three defenders in an attempt to change things up front.

Not much happened in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, as the USA just seemed unable to really threaten the Czech defense.

Substitute Lokvenc was yellow-carded for a foul on Onyewu in the 59th minute, and Claudio Reyna followed a minute later after a foul on Plasil.

The Czechs were close to scoring a third in the 61st minute, when Lokvenc had a chance to shoot on goal but the attempt was too weak and Keller easily saved.

And seven minutes later, Rosicky confirmed his skills, with a spectacular strike that hit Keller's crossbar.

The Americans finally showed some motivation again when substitute Eddie Johnson just missed the target in the 70th minute. Johnson seemed to give his side some new strength, needed to get at least one goal.

0-3 Rosicky 76th minute
But the match was really decided six minutes later, when Rosicky scored his second. The new Arsenal midfielder received the ball from Nedved, stayed calm and struck past Keller.

The two-times goalscorer was subbed off for Jiri Stajner in the 86th minute, with the crowd chanting his name.

After two minutes of added time, the full time whistle sounded and Karel Brückner's men secured an impressive 3-0 victory.